G and I both worked from home on Thursday last week, partly because attempting to get to work seemed daft and partly so we could leave a little earlier than originally planned, which seemed sensible when venturing out into the snowstorm. We only had a two hour drive to do so I was hopeful that once we got to the motorways the roads would be fine, but this turned out to be naïve thinking on my part.
Thank fuck G was driving; I’d have probably had a nervous breakdown if I’d been behind the wheel. There was a lot of snow/snow drifts on the motorways. The windscreen wash froze, visibility was poor and it was physically impossible to actually see the motorway lanes or get above 40mph. I spent 4 hours jumping between feeling extremely tense or laughing more than was necessary at G’s casual comments; ‘60mph limit – more of an aspiration right now’.
BUT WE MADE IT. (I have never been so happy to see a Premier Inn before.)
Naturally the snow caused a few more hiccups. Taxis wouldn’t take any bookings the night before and there were a few hours in the early evening of the wedding day where we were wholly convinced that we were snowed in and were sleeping on a wooden floor dressed in our finery (we weren’t actually particularly bothered by this….). We only made it back to the hotel because of one taxi driver who was willing to ferry people on the snow-covered country roads (the guy must have made a killing). That drive was a little bit like being on a rollercoaster, only with the very real possibility of skidding off the road to our deaths. I have so much regret that I didn’t take pictures/film that journey because when describing it to someone, it genuinely will sound like we are exaggerating the amount of snow on the road or the way the taxi driver whizzed across a crossroads or skidded in the car park.
You know what though? That snow, despite causing a few minor dramas here and there, made for a freakin’ BEAUTIFUL wedding.
The whole day was just gorgeous; the stunning brides, the deer running around in the snow, the huge windows looking across the snowy scenes.
It was so emotional watching one of our oldest friends walk down the aisle and actually get married. I think when you’ve been friends with someone that long, it’s hard not to get a little teary eyed. I love how happy the brides looked, how it started to snow during the ceremony and how all our other halves finally got to meet; how one of my gals sang a couple of songs with the band, the way we pulled out our best (ahem worst) moves on the dance floor and how, at one point, there was 4 of us in one toilet cubicle. I loved the moment when one of my gals turned to me in a slightly drunken state and went ‘Kate, they’re MARRIED, actually married!’
It was the most beautiful, loveliest day and if this is the start of that time period in life everyone tells you about, where you go to several friend’s weddings a year; well, I can’t wait.
Congratulations to Mrs and Mrs Van Arrowsmith <3
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